Toy gun construction



m- 1 M. E. HIRSCH 3,149,432

TOY GUN CONSTRUCTION Filed June 29, 1962 ANVENTOR Mil 1 f/nzrcfi BY 2&1

M Mam ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,149,432 TOY GUN CONSTRUCTIONMahlon E. Hirsch, Fairview, Pa., assignor to Louis Marx & (10., Inc, NewYork, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No.206,333 3 Claims. (Cl. 42-54) This invention relates generally to toysof the type adapted to project a missile, and is especially concernedwith toy guns.

While the device of the present invention has been primarily developedand employed for use in a simulated automatic pistol of the Luger type,it is understood that the unique features disclosed herein are capableof many varied applications, all of which are intended to becomprehended.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a toy constructionwherein a gun or the like is adapted to propel a missile at one locationin the gun by percussion of a cap at another, remote location.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy-gunconstruction having a simulated breech lock which is automaticallyactuated upon trigger operation, and which may be selectively operatedeither by or independently ofthe trigger-and-hammer mechanism.

It is still anotherobject of the present invention to provide a gunconstruction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in thepreceding paragraphs, which is extremely simple in structure, capable ofaccurately simulating a real gun, and durable and entirely reliablethroughout a long useful life.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a gun construction of the presentinvention in an inoperative condition, and partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 1, but showingthe gun in a cocked operative condition of use;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view, broken away, and illustratingindependent operation of the breech-lock mechanism;

FIG, 5 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating operation of themissile-propelling structure; and

FIG. 6 is a partial top view showing the anvil apart from the gun.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 1and 2 thereof, a toy gun is there generally designated 10 and mayadvantageously be fabricated of plastic, as by injection-molding, andformed of a pair of longitudinally extending, complementary facinghalves 11.

More particularly, a longitudinally extending tubular forepart or barrelis constituted of a pair of generally semicylindrical barrel halves 13which are adhesively or otherwise secured together in facing relationalong a meeting line 14. The barrel 10 has its forward end 15 open andis formed interiorly with an internal shoulder 16 adjacent to and spacedrearward from the forward barrel end.

Extending rearward from the rear end of the barrel 12 is a hollow rearpart or breech 20 composed of complementary, facing breech parts orhalves 21 suitably joined together along a longitudinal center line, asat 22. The hollow breech 20 is formed on its upper side with alongitudinally extending through opening 23, as best seen in FIG. 3. Ahandgrip 24 depends from the breech 20 for holding by the user.

Interiorly of the barrel 12 in the forward or muzzle end region thereofis a tubular body or receiver 26 for supporting engagement with ahollow, generally cupped missile or projectile 27. The tubular receiver26 is interiorly hollow and provided at its rear end with an annular ribor collar 28 secured in the shoulder 16 to mount the receiver in spacedrelation within the barrel. As best seen in FIG. 5, the receiver 26 hasits rear end open, and is provided with an outlet opening or port 29 inits forward end wall. A cupped missile 27 is therefore insertable intothe muzzle end of barrel 12 for supported engagement on the tubularmissile receiver 26.

An anvil is generally designated 30 and best seen in FIG. 6. The anvilmay include a generally flat plate 31 formed with a central throughopening or port 32. Side wings 33 may extend laterally from oppositeside edges of the anvil plate 31; and, a marginal wall 34 having aninturned lip 35, may extend about the lower and side edges of the anvilplate 31. Also, a connection tube or nipple 36 may project from theanvil plate 31 on the face opposite to the marginal wall 34. Thus, thetubular extension 36 has one end opening to the port 32. Theabove-described anvil 30 may be integrally formed of metal, as bydie-casting or other suitable means.

In the assembly, the anvil 33 is located at the forward end of breechopening 23, with the plate 31 extending obliquely forward and upward andthe wall 34 located on the rearward side toward the breech opening. Morespecifically, the breech 2th is formed at the forward end of opening 23with an anvil-mounting formation 40 havmg an inclined surface 41 facingrearwardly and upwardly and formed with a bore or hole 42 extending fromthe surface 41;, generally normal thereto, forwardly and downwardly foropening into the interior of the breech. The anvil plate 31 seatsagainst the mounting surface 41 with the nipple 36 extending through thebore 42; and, the breech is provided with lateral grooves or slots 43receiving the wings 33. Thus, the anvil 30 is secured in its forwardlyinclined relation in the breech 20 at the forward end of breech opening23.

A conduit or tube 45 extends longitudinally interiorly of the barrel 12between the the receiver 26 and anvil 30. The conduit or tube 45 has itsforward end 46, see FIG. 5, secured interiorly of the receiver 26 forcommuni cation with the interior thereof, and extends rearwardtherefrom. Within the breech 20, the tube 45 is curved or bent, as at47, so that its rear portion 48 inclines rearwardly for entry in andsecurement to the nipple 36 of the anvil 30. Flexible tubing, such aspolyethylene or similar plastic has been found advantageous for use asconduit 45. Such tubing facilitates manufacture, enabling the bend 47 tobe made at assembly, and is entirely satisfactory in operation, as willappear presently.

A trigger 50 has its upper end pivotally mounted, as by a pin 51interiorly of the breech 20, generally beneath the curved region 47 ofthe conduit 45, and depends to a free end 52 beneath the breech forfinger actuation. Mounted interiorly of the breech 20 rearward of thetrigger 50 is a hammer 55 which has its lower end pivoted, as at 56interiorly of and at a lower region within the breech, beneath theforward region of breech opening 23. The hammer 55 extends upwardly fromits pivotal mount ing 56 to an upper end 57 located in spaced relationwithin and movable forwardly and rearwardly along the breech opening 23toward and away from the anvil 30. The upper hammer end 5'7 may beprovided with an enlarged head 58 for percussive engagement with therear face of anvil plate 31 upon forward hammer movement. Suitableresilient means, such as a tension spring 59, may be connected between amedial region of the hammer 55 and a forward point in the breech 20,such as the pivotal mount 51, whereby the hammer is resiliently urgedforward toward its engagement with the anvil 30.

Within the breech opening 21, the hammer 55 is provided with a pair oflaterally oppositely outstanding lugs r bosses 61 which move forwardlyand rearwardly along the breech opening 23 with the hammer, for apurpose appearing presently. The hammer is also formed with a boss orlug 62 extending laterally from one side of the hammer adjacent to andspaced above its lower end pivotal mount 56.

An operating link 64 extends generally forwardly and rearwardly alongthe lower region of breech 26, having its forward portion 65 angulatedforwardly and upwardly, while its rearward portion 66 is angulatedrearwardly and upwardly. Just rearward of the forward link portion 65,the link 64 is pivoted, as by a pin 67 to an intermediate region of thetrigger 50, and just forward of the rear portion 66 the link 64 is shownas resting on the lug 62 in FIG. 2. A tooth 68 depends from the link 64just forward of the lug 62, and a pin 69 is fixed in the breech 20 inengagement with the underside of rear link portion 66, all for a purposeappearing presently. Suitable resilient means, such as a tension spring76 may be provided with its opposite ends respectively connected to theforward end of forward portion 65 and extending forwardly and upwardlytherefrom to an anchor member 71 fixed in the breech 20. Thus, theoperating link 64 is resiliently urged clockwise by the resilientelement 70 about the pivotal connection 67, to maintain the rear linkportion 66 in engagement with the guide member 69. Upon rearward fingeractuation of the trigger 50, the tooth 68 engages the lug 62 to swingthe hammer 55 rearward; and simultaneously the rear link portion 66rides on the cam or guide 69 to elevate the operating link 64. Thiscondition is shown in FIG. 3, wherein the tooth 68 is just about to rideover the boss 62 and thereby release the hammer 55 for forwardpercussive movement against the anvil 30. Release of the trigger permitsthe latter to swing forward and bring the operating link 64 forward toreturn to its illustrated position of FIG. 2.

Mounted in the breech opening 23, behind the hammer 55, in a mechanism,generally designated 75, which accurately simulates a breech lock. Thebreech-lock mechanism 75 includes a pair of articulated, forward andrearward toggle links 76 and 77 which are located in the same generallyvertical plane and connected at their adjacent ends by a pin 78. Therear link 77 has its rear end pivoted to a rearward region of the breech20, as by a pin 79, while the forward end of the front link 76 isprovided with a pair of laterally outstanding lugs 80 respectivelyconstrained to forward and rearward sliding movement in slots 81 formedin respective breech parts 21 on opposite sides of and facing laterallyinto the forward region of breech opening 23. Thus, the forward .4region of forward toggle link '76 is constrained to forward and rearwardsliding movement in the breech opening 23.

Suitable resilient means, such as a spring 83, may be connected to therear toggle link 77 and bear against a fixed pin 84 to resiliently urgethe rear toggle link counterclockwise, as seen in the drawings, so as tobias the toggle linkage 76, 77 to its generally aligned conditionsubstantially entirely within the breech opening 23, with the forwardend of forward toggle link 76 toward the upper hammer end 57. The spring83 is preferably relatively Weak, and finger-actuable projections areprovided, as at 86 and 87 exteriorly proximate to the pivotal mount 79for effecting rearward retraction of the toggle linkage 75, as shown inFIG. 4.

The forward end of front toggle link 76 is cut away, as at 90, forreceiving the upper hammer region 57 and to define a pair of laterallyspaced legs 91 for forward extension in the forward region of breechopening 23 on opposite sides of the upper hammer portion 57. The legs 91each have their forward region formed with a notch or cutout 92 forreceiving a respective lug or boss 61 of the hammer 55. That is, uponrearward hammer movement, the lugs 61 engage in respective cutouts 92 toeffect rearward movement of the toggle linkage 66, 67 as illustrated inFIG. 3. However, the cutouts 92 are configured to permit the forwardends of legs 91 to ride rearward apart from the lugs 61 for actuation ofthe toggle linkage 76, 77 independently of the hammer 55. That is, uponfinger actuation of the projections 86, 87, the toggle linkage may beswung rearward to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, entirelyindependently of the hammer 55.

In FIG. 5 is shown the operation with a percussion cap 95 on the anvil3t) and being percussively engaged by the hammer 55. Gases of explosionpass through the port 32, as indicated by the arrows 96, forward throughthe tube or conduit 45, to the receiver 26, from which they escape atthe forward port 29 to propel the missile 27 forward. Of course, the cap95 may then be removed and replaced, and a missile engaged on thereceiver for repetition of the above-described procedure. It will benoted that the operation accurately simulates that of a real pistol, andalso that the forward inclination of the anvil 30 facilitates loadingand removal of a cap 95, as well as the upper hammer end 57 serving toeffectively cover the anvil to prevent rearward sparking.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides atoy-gun construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects andis well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Toy gun for projecting a hollow missile having one open end,comprising complementary casing halves secured together in matingrelation to form a single hollow casing having a front longitudinalbarrel portion, a rear breech portion and a handle portion dependingfrom said breech portion, the interior spaces of said casing portionscommunicating with each other to form a continuous overall casingcavity, said barrel having a front end opening, a missile receiverinternally mounted in said barrel adjacent its front end and having athrough longitudinal bore, said receiver adapted to receive said missilewith the front of said receiver extended frictionally into the open endof said missile, said breech having an opening, an anvil having a frontand rear face and longitudinal through port mounted in the opening ofsaid breech, said anvil adapted to receive a percussion cap on its rearface overlying said port, a hammer mounted in said breech for movementinto and out of percussive relation with said rear face of said anvil,and a longitudinally extending flexible hollow tube extending throughsaid barrel and to said breech, said receiver having means on its rearreceiving the front of said tube in fluid communication with said bore,said anvil having means on its front receiving said tube in fluidcommunication with said port, whereby cap explosion pressure istransmitted through said tube to said receiver for projecting a missile.

2. Toy gun according to claim 1, said breech opening being on the upperside of said breech, said anvil being inclined so that its rear face isin forwardly inclined relation in said opening, for convenient loadingand safe explosion.

3. Toy gun according to claim 2, said front face of said anvil beinginclined correspondingly to said anvil rear face and the rear of saidtube being correspondingly bent for connection to said anvil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS145,745 Mills et a1. Dec. 23, 1873 2,088,891 Brubaker Aug. 3, 19372,561,849 Everett July 24, 1951 2,765,710 Bradley Oct. 9, 1956 2,983,064Hirsch et a1. May 9, 1961 3,039,366 Imthurn et al June 19, 1962 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,009,973 Germany June 6, 1957

1. TOY GUN FOR PROJECTING A HOLLOW MISSILE HAVING ONE OPEN END,COMPRISING COMPLEMENTARY CASING HALVES SECURED TOGETHER IN MATINGRELATION TO FORM A SINGLE HOLLOW CASING HAVING A FRONT LONGITUDINALBARREL PORTION, A REAR BREECH PORTION AND A HANDLE PORTION DEPENDINGFROM SAID BREECH PORTION, THE INTERIOR SPACES OF SAID CASING PORTIONSCOMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER TO FORM A CONTINUOUS OVERALL CASINGCAVITY, SAID BARREL HAVING A FRONT END OPENING, A MISSILE RECEIVERINTERNALLY MOUNTED IN SAID BARREL ADJACENT ITS FRONT END AND HAVING ATHROUGH LONGITUDINAL BORE, SAID RECEIVER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID MISSILEWITH THE FRONT OF SAID RECEIVER EXTENDED FRICTIONALLY INTO THE OPEN ENDOF SAID MISSILE, SAID BREECH HAVING AN OPENING, AN ANVIL HAVING A FRONTAND REAR FACE AND LONGITUDINAL THROUGH PORT MOUNTED IN THE OPENING OFSAID BREECH, SAID ANVIL ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PERCUSSION CAP ON ITS REARFACE OVERLYING SAID PORT, A HAMMER MOUNTED IN SAID BREECH FOR MOVEMENTINTO AND OUT OF PERCUSSIVE RELATION WITH SAID REAR FACE OF SAID ANVIL,AND A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FLEXIBLE HOLLOW TUBE EXTENDING THROUGHSAID BARREL AND TO SAID BREECH, SAID RECEIVER HAVING MEANS ON ITS REARRECEIVING THE FRONT OF SAID TUBE IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID BORE,SAID ANVIL HAVING MEANS ON ITS FRONT RECEIVING SAID TUBE IN FLUIDCOMMUNICATION WITH SAID PORT, WHEREBY CAP EXPLOSION PRESSURE ISTRANSMITTED THROUGH SAID TUBE TO SAID RECEIVER FOR PROJECTING A MISSILE.